Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

[dinkyjacksonman]

I found this on Les Paul Forum.
This guy received his guitar this way by Fedex ground.
No box! [img]/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]
He says the guitar wasn't damaged but I would be so pissed if it that happened to me and how stupid Fedex would accept a package like this???

[sambencuda]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

At least it's wrapped. I got a guitar once with nothing but tape around the case. People are dumb, plain and simple.

[Jacksonfan]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

[img]/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]That pic sums up FedEx based on my experience with them. I guess it's different depending on where you live, but I've always had good service from UPS, while others here tell about bad experiences with them. Back to FedEx though, I bought a neck on the bay a while back and had to contact them several times. I was given a different excuse each time. My favorite was that my address wasn't on the package. I gave them my address and telephone number and thought everything was settled. Wrong! They called back later the same evening and wanted to just bring it to a Burger King about 15 miles from where I live. I finally agreed just to finally get the neck after waiting on it for about two weeks. I got the package and brought it home and looked it over. I saw the label that they wrote my supposed missing info on. I decided to peel it off and surprise, surprise there was the original label from the seller with my complete address and info. No more FedEx for me!

Chris

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

I've only ever dealt with FedEx when I sell, and I pack the guitars myself. I resolved to pack my own guitars after receiving my Shannon in just a cardboard box, nothing else (besides the OHSC), via UPS. Not the fault of the seller, though.

With FedEx, they make me write all the address labels myself. Then they stick the labels on the box right in front of me. I love my FedEx place.

Of course, I've noticed people always have different opinions and different experiences with different couriers, so there's never one perfect courier for everybody unfortunately.

Back to the guitar... is that SARAN WRAP? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] At least they can handle the case using the handle, rather than tossing it around, although they probably did... it's a wonder that it made it there in one piece.

Wait, did the seller wrap the guitar himself, or did FedEx wrap that guitar?

[monte]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

I got one guitar like that and another with just tape on the latches....

[toejam]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

I got a Kelly XLR one time off ebay (in its big-ass case) that just had a thin piece of cardboard wrapped around part of the case with my name and address on it. There was a crack in the case, but I'm not sure if that was from shipping or if it was like that before. Luckily, the guitar had no damage whatsoever, so I was kinda happy.

[No Use]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

so whats the ideal way to ship a guitar? how do you do it yourself? and does the courier do it for you too/can they?
lemme know how you guys work this area of guitars!

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

There's no single ideal way of packing a guitar for shipping, but there are general guidelines. I got hints from Neal Moser's custom shop method of packing but that thread on some other forum doesn't exist any longer. To pack my RG560 recently, I used a LOT of semi-crumpled up balls of newspaper to fill in the spaces in the generic Strat case, giving lots of padding to the neck and headstock. Pack it so that the case takes some effort to close and latch. If the box is big enough, fill up some plastic shopping bags with the crumpled newspaper and put them at the bottom for the guitar case to rest on. Rest the guitar case on them and then fill up the rest of the box with your newspaper-filled plastic bags, making sure the guitar case is suspended inside the box and completely surrounded by the bags. If you wish, put the whole box INSIDE another larger box packed the same way... this is referred to as "double boxing" which is quite effective. Keep in mind that the shippers calculate costs based on weight and the external dimensions of the package. Hopefully with the money saved from not buying expensive styrofoam peanuts, you can pay for the shipping needed.

Also, styrofoam peanuts don't biodegrade, so I don't use 'em. At least with the newspaper, you can recycle it, and you can reuse the plastic shopping bags and the guitar box(es). Nature boy to the rescue. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I also had no strings set up on the guitar when I sent it out. There's always the argument of whether detuning the strings is beneficial for releasing the tension so the neck won't snap. Others have noticed that even if you don't detune, at least unlock the locknut so there's even pressure all along the string length or whatever. I unlocked the locknut and had no strings on my RG560.

Also, I cut a rectangle-shaped hole in the box so that the case handle sticks out. This will give those Samsonite apes something to hold onto when they carry my precious guitar... RacerX gave me that idea. I guess it also helps them know which side is UP so that they don't slam the guitar down headstock-first.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

Don't blame FedEx for that, blame the idiot who shipped it like that.

There is horror stories from every shipper but my experience of shipping and receiving well packed stuff, FedEx and USPS are 10x better than UPS. UPS could phuck up a shipped phuck up - they are that bad!

[ABSOLUT CHARVEL]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)



"Also, styrofoam peanuts don't biodegrade"

That might explain my painful dumps when I eat them [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I guess that's one way to dispose of them... [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I guess they'd count as part of your fiber intake though since they just pass right through you... [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[quiksilver]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

Looking on the bright side, FedEx did get the guitar delivered undamaged, making the package irrelevant.

[Greg Crowe]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

Get this, I got a 92 LTD Rhoads sent to me from Costa Rica in just the case, no lock, no packaging, nothing! Thank god I picked it up at the airport.

[No Use]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

thanks NOTP, that'll come in handy!

any other thoughts?

crazy ass stories though. Greg, your LTD story is crazy!

[yard dawg]

Re: Check this Amzing packing job (Les Paul / Fedex)

[ QUOTE ]
so whats the ideal way to ship a guitar? how do you do it yourself? and does the courier do it for you too/can they?
lemme know how you guys work this area of guitars!

[/ QUOTE ]

I always wrap the guitar in bubble wrap..about 25 feet or so..focusing on headstock..then go to a store and get a box thats guitar sized..after guitar is in i fill in around the empty space with more bubble wrap or newspaper..Then tape the box with about half roll of box tape..then write FRAGILE all over it..I always use USPS..with insurance..no DOA's yet...If useing a case then find a block of wood that is the same height of the inside of the case..SO it cant be crsuhed especially near the headstock..They snap easily when the case is crused from the top..Always use a box with tons a bubble wrap too...Bubble wrap is your friend [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]